Renewables: Mission Control

Wind energy is the fastest-growing source of energy in the world and a tremendous source of homegrown power. Iberdrola Renewables is the largest provider of wind energy in the world, and the second-largest provider in North America, helping utilities green up their energy portfolios. The latest operation in the Iberdrola Renwables fleet is the National Control Center. 

In a room that looks a little like Mission Control, systems analysts oversee every turbine at every wind farm throughout the country, 24/7. They monitor the performance and efficiency of every turbine. They keep an eye on approaching storms to warn technicians in the field to get to safety before harsh weather hits. They even help scientists conduct groundbreaking wildlife research at wind farms.

A vital element of this operation is the SCADA system. Each wind turbine has a control box containing a PLC, power converter, control boards, and I/O device at the top. Sensors for wind speed, wind direction, shaft rotation speed, and numerous other factors collect and transfer data to the PLC. By detecting the wind's direction, the control system can use a motorized yaw gear to turn the entire wind turbine in the proper wind direction for maximum power generation.

This central control station (National Control Center) has a powerful SCADA system supplied by PcVue that acts as a ‘nerve center’ for all the wind farms. It connects the individual turbines, the substations, the meteorological stations, the bird/bat aviation radar and other wildlife preservation surveillance systems to this central control room.  It provides visibility for the operator to supervise the behaviour of all the wind turbines and all the wind farms as a whole.

The control system in each installation collects the main operational information from the generators and their associated substation. The control system is connected to the Control Center through a remote communication channel, and therefore facilitates maintenance tasks. The National Control Center receives this information and processes it into an organised and simplified structure that enables easy identification and diagnosis of failures. This diagnosis triggers the appropriate actions for its solution: remote reset or activation of local maintenance teams. As a result, average downtime decreases; thus increasing availability.  Operators can see in depth data of the remote wind farms. 

Iberdrola Renewables in the US is transitioning now for completion by the end of 2010.

Read the article online at: https://www.oilfieldtechnology.com/drilling-and-production/29072010/renewable_wind_farms_national_control_center/